Closure interlock for laundry machines having contractible inner liners



g- 24, 1954 T. E. D. BILDE 2,687,029

CLOSURE INTERLOCK FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES HAVING CONTRACTIBLE INNER LINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 'Jan. 22. 1952 Aug. 24, 1954 N T. E. D. BILDE 2,637,029

CLOSURE INTERLOCK FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES HAVING CONTRACTIBLE INNER LINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1952 zz 151v Nix/M- M Aug. 24, 1954 B|LDE 2,687,029

CLOSURE INTERLOCK FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES HAVING CONTRACTIBLE INNER LINERS Filed Jan. 22, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 M wmll a gwww '5 Q M M Aug. 24, 1954 T E D. BILDE 2,687,029

CLOSURE INTERIZOCK FOR LAUNDRY MACHINES HAVING CONTRACTIBLE INNER LINERS I Filed Jan. 22. 1952 4 $h86t$$h66t 4 if 94 57 f9 PM I @3/a I I J E 1I| -3fl 5& I a 1 l INVEN 0R mil/ mm BY ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 24, 1954 CLOSURE INTERLOCK FOR LAUNDRY MA- CHINES HAVING CONTRACTIBLE INNER LINERS Tord Erik Daniel Bilde, Stockholm, Sweden, as-

signor to Aktiebolaget Elektrolux, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Application January 22, 1952, Serial No. 267,654

(llaims priority, application Sweden January 23, 1951 15 Claims.

My invention relates to a laundry machine, and is particularly concerned with a machine of the kind in which washing and rinsing operations are performed in a space having a contractible inner liner employed to extract liquid from laundry.in such space.

A laundry machine of this type desirably may embody provisions for automatically effecting a number of operations, including washing and rinsing of laundry, in a receptacle therein having a flexible inner liner, such operations also including contracting of the liner to extract liquid from the laundry. Further, suitable controls are usually provided for governing and regulating the operating provisions, so that they will be performed in a desired order or sequence. In order to provide maximum safety during the liquid extracting period, the cover for closing the access opening desirably is sufficiently heavy so that it will withstand deformation when laundry is pressed against the underside thereof as the result of contracting the inner liner. In addition, the marginal edge portion about the top access opening is formed with a downwardly directed surface with which the peripheral edge portion of the cover is adapted to cooperate when the latter is in its closed position. It has generally been the practice heretofore to provide mounting provisions within the laundry machine receptacle for permanently supporting the cover therein in such a manner that the cover can be moved back and forth between open and closed positions. Such mounting provisions are objectionable because they take up space within the receptacle and there is always the likelihood of forcibly striking and scraping a hand against the edges of exposed metal parts. Further, laundry often can become tangled when moved into intimate contact with such exposed metal parts. i

vision immediately preceding that of contracting the inner liner, will affect the control pro- A further object is to provide such an improved arrangement in which the cover holding provisions are only effective to hold the cover in its closed position and ineffective to support the cover when the latter is manually removed from its closed position to permit access through the opening into the receptacle.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such an improved arrangement in which the cover can be locked in its closed position and manual removal thereof can be prevented when the laundry machine reaches an operating step in which the inner liner is to be contracted.

A still further object is to provide such an improved arrangement in which the cover holding provision is disposed within the laundry machine and completely inaccessible for independcut manipulation when the cover is in its closed position.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description and accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,

visions and prevent the liner from being contracted until the cover is mounted in its closed position.

and of which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a laundry machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of parts of the laundry machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional View taken at line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the laundry machine of Fig. 1 illustrating parts in a different operating position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of parts of the laundry machine shown in Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken at lines 66 and 7-7, respectively, of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 1, taken at line 8-8 of Fig. 9, illustrating the position the different parts assume when the cover is in its closed position and the inner flex- V ible liner is being contracted;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the laundry machine shown in Fig. 8;

Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views of parts of the laundry machine shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken at line |2--l2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional. view taken at line l3-l3 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 1 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view 3 of a modified laundry machine, taken at line l4l l of Fig. 15, to illustrate more clearly certain features of the invention which are also embodied in the laundry machine of Figs. 1 to 13;

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the laundry ma-- chine shown in Fig. 14, partly broken away and taken in section, to illustrate details more clearly;

Fig. 16 is a View generally similar to Fig. 14 and differs therefrom in that the cover is shown pro jecting through the top opening of the washing apparatus, additional positions of the cover also being shown in dotted lines;

Figs. 17 and 18 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views taken at lines ll!'l and 58-48, respectively, of Fig. 15;

Fig. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken at line l9l 9 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary sectional'view similar to Fig. 7 illustrating another position of the parts.

In Figs. 1 to 13 and 18 I have shown my invention embodied in a laundry machine of a type "in which washing, rinsing and extracting of liquid may be effected within a receptacle 2i defined by a flexible inner liner 22 which is retained within a container 23. The container 23 is disposed within an outer shell i l of the laundry machine which is formed to provide a bottom compartment '25 and a vertically extending compartment 26 alongside the container 23. The container 23 is formed with a neck portion or collar 2? defining a top opening Eii adapted to be closed by a cover or closure member as. The upper end of the inner liner 22 may be fixed within the neck portion or collar 2i with the aid of a ring-shaped metal band 30.

The washing apparatus embodies provisions for removing liquid from the upper part of the receptacle E; I. As best shown in 5, a multiplicity of overflow openings 3! forming a drain outlet are distributed about the neck portion or collar 2?. A

cylindrical-shaped vertical wall section 32 of the container 23 is spaced from and disposed about the apertured collar 2? to provide a ring-shaped control the supply of electrical energy to the motor. An agitator 3d disposed in the receptacle 2| is fixed to a vertically extending shaft as arranged to be driven by motor 35. A suitable clutch or coupling so is provided in the connection between the motor and agitator 33, the coupling including an operating lever il which is pivoted at 42 and biased by a spring (is to render the clutch operable to drive the agitator .38.

Liquid for washing and rinsing laundry in receptacle ill is supplied thereto through a conduit 1- 3 from a valve control unit diagrammatically illustrated at lll. Liquid is introduced from control unit 45 through a conduit to the space between the container 23 and liner 22 to cause the latter to contract from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 8, thereby squeezing the laundry and extracting liquid therefrom. Such liquid for washing, rinsing and squeezing purposes may be supplied to the valve control unit through one or more conduits ll (only one of which is shown), and liquid withdrawn from the machine maybe discharged from the control-unit through a conduit 38. Liquid extracted from laundr as well as overflow rinsing liquid can pass from the upper part of receptacle 2i through the apertured top outlet into manifold chamber 33 and flow therefrom through conduit 34 to waste, as previously explained.

Suitable mechanism is provided to actuate the valve control unit 45, coupling in and switch 31 to effect washing and rinsing of laundry being washed in receptacle 2 I, and also to extract liquid from the laundry. As diagrammatically shown, such mechanism may comprise a shaft 49 upon which are fixed a group of cams 59 operatively associated with the valve control unit 45, a cam '51 for operating switch ill and a cam $2 for operating coupling 43. The shaft 19 may be driven from motor 35 by suitable connections 53 which include a time-escapement unit iii to impart a step-by-step movement to the shaft 49. Provision is also made for manually imparting movement to shaft d9, such mechanism including gearing 55 and an elongated control member 553 at the upper end of which is provided a manually operable handle er accessible at the top of the laundry machine.

It will now be understood that the control provisions diagrammatically shovm in Figs. 1 and 8 and just described may be constructed and arranged to effect automatically a sequence of operations or steps which can include soaking, washing, rinsing of laundry and extracting of liquid therefrom. The agitator 38 may be rendered operable during the washing and rinsing steps, and washing and rinsing liquids may be discharged from the bottom of receptacle 2| in a path of flow which includes conduit it. During one of the rinsing periods, such as the final rinsing period, for example, rinsing liquid may overflow at the top of receptacle 2! through the openings 3| into chamber 33 and thence pass through conduit '34, as best seen in Fig. 5. During the liquid extracting period when the liner 22 contracts from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 8, the agitator 33 desirably is rendered inoperable and extracted liquid may overflow through the top openings 3! as well as draining through the conduit 45.

The manually operable handle 5'! previously described can be turned to shift the shaft 49 and hence is operable to cause the laundry machine to effect soaking, rinsing and liquid extracting. Further, the control provisions desirably are so constructed and arranged that turning of the handle 51 will initiate automatic operation of the apparatus through a complete washing cycle. Although the control provisions referred to above are only diagrammatically shown, it is believed that a more detailed showing and description of the control provisions will not be necessary for an understanding of the. present invention.

In Fig. 8 the cover 29 is shown in its closed position while in Fig. 1 the cover has been removed from the laundry machine. As shown in Figs. 1 and 8, the top access opening 28 is defined by the neck portion or collar 2'! of the container 23 and the inner flange or collar 58 at the apertured top 59 of the laundry machine. A horizontal wall portion 60 projects radially outward from the lower edge of the flange 58, such wall portion 60 forming an integral part of a larger plate 6| of annular form and at the underside of which the upper end of the collar or neck portion 2'! terminates, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 11. Hence, when the cover 29 is inserted into position, the horizontal wall portion 60, which is of annular form and more or less ring-shaped, provides a downwardly directed surface with which the outer peripheral portion of the cover 29 cooperates.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 8, a number of springpressed latching bolts 62 are distributed about the upper part of the neck 21. In order to show the bolts 62 more clearly and the manner in which such bolts hold the cover 29 in its closed position and also the manner in which the cover is inserted within the receptacle, reference will now be made to Fig. 19 and also to Figs. 14 to 18 which illustrate a modified form of laundry machine generally like that shown in Figs. 1 to 13 and being described. Parts in Figs. 14 to 18 which are similar to those shown in Figs. 1 to 13 are referred to by the same reference numeral to which the sufiix a has been added.

In Figs. 14 to 18 the laundry machine comprises an outer container 23a having a neck portion or collar 21a defining a top opening 28a adapted to be closed by a cover or closure member 29a. Within the container 23a is disposed a flexible inner liner 22a formed of suitable resilient material, such as rubber, for example. The inner liner 22a defines the receptacle 2 I a, the upper end of which. may be fixed in position within the neck portion or collar 27a with the aid of a ring-shaped metal band 39a. As best shown in Fig. 18, a multiplicity of overflow openings 3 la forming a drain outlet are distributed about the neck portion or collar 21a. A cylindrical-shaped wall section 3211 of the container 23a is spaced from and disposed about the apertured collar 21a to provide a ringshaped chamber or manifold 33a into which liquid passes through the openings am, a conduit 34a being connected to the manifold 33a for conducting liquid therefrom to waste, for example. As shown in Fig. 17, the member 32a providing the manifold chamber 33a is formed with a downwardly sloping top wall 59a having a vertically extending wall portion 58a depending therefrom which defines the upper region of the top opening 28a. A horizontally disposed wall portion 60a projects radially outward from the vertical wall portion 58a and cooperates with the upper end of the neck portion or collar 21a of the container 23a.

A number of latching bolts 6201. are distributed about the neck 21a, each of which comprises an inner rounded end portion of reduced size and a larger outer cylindrical portion having a shoulder 66a therebetween, the outer portion of each bolt being movable in a hollow sleeve or tubular element 63a; The smaller inner end portion of each sleeve 53a is fixed at 64a to the collar Zla r:

at the region of an opening therein, a spring 650. being retained under compression within the sleeve to urge or bias the latching bolt 62a to its innermost position which is determined by a stop formed at the inner end of the sleeve and against which the shoulder 66a acts or bears.

In order to insert the cover 29a in the interior of the laundry machine to its closed position and subsequently remove the cover completely from the container23a, the wall defining the top opening 23a is formed with a pair of recesses or notches 61a diametrically opposite one another, as best seen in Fig. 15. When Fig. 18, which is a View at one of the recessed regions 61a, is compared with Fig. 17, it will be evident that the vertically extending wall portion 58a at the region of the recesses or notches Gla is essentially flush with the extreme upper end section of the collar 21a of the container 23a. Hence, the recessed regions 61a are characterized by the absence of the horizontal wall portion a which permits the cover moved to the lowerhorizontal position indicated in dotted lines. When the cover 29a is in the horizontal dotted line position shown in. Fig. 16, it is then raised to bring the top peripheral surface thereof against the horizontal wall portion 60a. With such upward movement of the cover 29a, the extreme edges of the cover act against the rounded inner ends of the latching bolts 62a and cause the latter to move a sufiicient distance against the biasing action of the springs a to allow the edge of the cover to move past the latching bolts. After the cover has been moved upwardly past the'latching bolts, the latter are immediately moved radially inward under the action of the springs 55a and effectively hold the cover 29a in its closed position. When the flexible inner liner 22a is contracted to squeeze liquid from the laundry in the receptacle 2hr through the openings 34a, the cover is securely held in its closed position by reason of the fact that it is always acting and bearing against the horizontal wallportion Ella whose inner diameter is less than the outer diameter of the cover.

-While the latching bolts 62a are formed with these bolts may be formed with any suitable beveled surface which will enable the cover to be moved past the bolts when the peripheral edge of the cover acts against their inner ends. When the cover 29a is to be removed from its closed position, it is pushed downwardly from the solid line position in Fig. 14 to the lower dotted line position in Fig. 16 and then tilted to the vertical position shown to withdraw the cover through the top opening 28a while the peripheral edge portions thereof are located in the recessed portions or notches Ha. I

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 13 and Fig. 19 and also the modified form of laundry machine shown in Figs. 14 to 18 the top access openings and covers are both of I circular shape. In each embodiment the mechanical provisions described for holding and supporting the covers are only eifective to hold the covers while they are in their closed positions. When the covers are pushed downwardly from their closed. positions, the holdingmembers 62 in Figs. lto l3 and 19 and similar members 62a in Figs. 14 to 18, respectively, are immediately ineffective to hold and support the covers and the latter are completely free of any attachment and can be easily removed from within the receptacles of the laundry machines. Further, the mechanical provisions for holding the covers 29 and 29a in their closed positions are disposed within the laundry machines and can be rendered operable to hold the covers in their closed positions only after the act of manually moving the covers to their closed positions. Also, the mechanical provisions described are rendered inoperable to hold the covers solely by movement of the covers inwardly from their closed positions at the regions of the top access openings of the laundry machines.

In accordance with my invention, protective mechanism is provided to prevent removal of thecover 29 in Figs. 1 to 13 during the periods when liquid is being admitted under pressure :1 through conduit 46 behind the inner liner 22 to cause the latter to contract. Such protective mechanism is operatively associated with locking members 68 which are in addition to the latching bolts 62 and one of which is seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 8. At least three such locking members 58 are provided which are angularly spaced apart 120, as shown in Fig. 9. The locking members 68 are radially movable in passages 69 and biased toward their innermost or looking positions by springs E0. The passages 69 are formed at the underside of the horizontal plate or partition 6| which encircles the top opening 28, such horizontal partition being apertured at H at the upper part of compartment 26 to allow the elongated control member 56 to pass therethrough, as seen in Figs. 5, 6 and 11. A section of plate 6| is formed with a depressed portion E2 of annular form upon which rests a ring-shaped plate 73. The relative position of the partition (ii and plate l3 rotatable thereon is best shown in Figs. 6, 9 and 13.

As seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the locking members 58 are provided with upwardly extending pins l t WhlCh pass through slots 75 and 76 in partithe plate 13 is turned in a counter-clockwise direction from its position in Figs. 3 and 6. Such turning movement is imparted to plate 33 by mechanism including a lever ll pivotally mounted at "i8 on partition 6|, as shown in Figs. and 6. The inner end of lever 71 which overlies plate 73 is bifurcated and receives a pin 19 fixed to and extending upwardly from plate 73. The opposite outer end of lever 71 is provided with a downwardly extending pin 88 which passes through an aperture 5! in partition GI and is arranged to bear against the peripheral surface of a cam 82 fixed to and rotatable with the elongated control member 56. As seen in Fig. 6, a spring 83 is connected to one end of lever l! to maintain pin 80 in engagement with cam 82 at all times.

During a liquid extracting period at which time liquid is supplied behind inner liner 22 through conduit 46, the agitator 38 is rendered inoperable and the control provisions are in such a position that the pin 80 'will be riding and bearing against a raised portion 82a of the cam 82, as seen in Fig. 13. The elongated control member 56 will turn to such a position when the liquid extraction period is normally reached during automatic operation of the apparatus; and also, of course, when the handle 51 is manually moved to instigate a liquid extracting operation. In such case, lever Tl will be rotated in a clockwise direction against the tension of spring 83 which in turn will cause the left-hand end of the lever H to impart movement to pin 59 and effect rotation of plate 13 in a counterclockwise direction when viewed in Figs. 3 and 6. Such turning of plate 13 will impart radially inward movement to the locking members '68 and keep such locking members in a locked position until control member 56 is moved from its liquid extracting position and the raised part 8201 of cam 82 no longer engages and bears against pin 80. It will be understood, of course, that the cover-holding latch bolts 62 are of the springpressed type and like those shown in Fig. 19 and previously described; while a sufiicient number of locking members 63, three in number, for example, are of the type which can be positively locked in position during a liquid extracting period. With such an arrangement, the cover 29 can be maintained in its closedposition by the latch bolts 62 during such periods of the washing cycle as washing and rinsing, for example, when the locking members 68 are retracted.

During certain periods of the washing cycle it is not objectionable if the cover 29 is removed from its closed position, such periods including the soaking, washing and conventional rinsing periods when the liquid surface level in the receptacle 2| remains below the position of the top overflow openings 3| which are shown in Fig. 5, for example. However, during other periods, particularly a period immediately preceding a liquid extracting period at which time the inner liner 22 is contracted, for example, it is desirable to keep the cover '29 in its closed position and I provide mechanism which makes it mandatory for the cover to be located in its closed position during said other periods, if the laundry machine is to function at all. As best shown in Fig. 5, such mechanism includes a horizontally movable element 84 which is biased by a spring in a radially inward direction at the vicinity of the top opening 23. As best shown in Fig. 7, element 84 includes a ring-shaped portion 8% having an elongated slot through which the vertical control member 55 passes, and at the outer end of such portion is provided a prong 81 which is efiective to control switch 36 in the motor circuit. The cam 8'2 is formed with a recess at the underside thereof into which projects a vertically extending prong 88 forming a part of the element 84. As best shown in Fig. '7, the inner surface 89 against which the prong t8 bears is formed with a series of notches which are closely adjacent to one another. Such recesses or stops 9B are formed at a part of cam 82 which moves into the region occupied by the prong 88 when the control member 56 is turned to an operating position at which it is desirable to keep the cover 29 in its closed position, such as an overflow rinsing period or final rinsing period immediately preceding the liquid extracting period, for example.

When the cover 29 is in its closed position, as seenin Figs. 8 and 11, a portion 9| of element 84 is acted upon by the peripheral edge portion of the cover and the element 84 is caused to move radially outward against the tension of spring 85. In such case the prong til acts against switch 38 to complete the circuit for motor 35. Under these conditions the mechanism just described is inactive and the control member 56 and the cam 82 become free to turn as a unit to the difierent positions they assume during the different periods of the washing cycle.

When the cover29 is removed and the notches 90 in cam 82 are at the vicinity of prong 83', the parts of the protective mechanism assume the position shown in Figs. 4, 5 and '7. In such case the spring 85 will be effective to move element 84 radially inward so that prong 88 can move into one of the stops or recesses 90 of the cam 82 which, being fixed on the control member 55, will prevent turning movement of the latter. At the same time the prong 81 moves toward the left in Figs. 4 and 5 and opens switch 36. so that motor 35 will be deenergized. Since control member 56 cannot be turned because the cover 29' is not in its closed position, the likelihood of moving the control member under such conditions to instigate a liquid extracting period is avoided.

However, when the cover 29 is positioned to close the topopening 28, as shown in Fig. 8, the parts of the protective mechanism will then shift from the positions shown in Figs. 4, and '7 to the positions shown in Figs. 8 and 11. Further, when the control member 56 is shifted to its liquid extracting position, the parts of the protective mechanism for keeping the locking members 68 in a cover closing position will shift from the cover-released positions shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 6 to the cover-locked positions shown in Figs. 8 to 13 inclusive.

In View of the foregoing, it will now be understood that I have provided an arrangement for inserting into position within the receptacle 2i the circular cover 29 of greater cross-sectional area than the circular top opening 28. Since both the cover 29 and opening 28 are of circular shape, it is not necessary to turn the cover 29 to a set or particular position preparatory to sideways or edgewise movement thereof through the opening 28 at the vicinity of the notches at the marginal edge portion about the opening. Also, it is not necessary to turn or twist the cover 29 by its handle to a set or particular position when being moved upwardly from its lower horizontal position, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 16, to its final position of rest seen in Figs. 8 and 14. Hence, in moving the cover 29 to its closed position, no special manipulating of the cover is required other than passing it sideways through the top opening at'the vicinity of the notches in the marginal edge portion and then simply raising the cover to its final position of rest.

The holding members 62 for holding and supporting the cover 29 are only effective to hold the cover while it is in a closed position. Pushing the cover downwardly from its closed position retracts the holding members 62 so that the cover 29 becomes completely free of attachment and can be easily removed from the interior of the receptacle 2|. In this manner a maximum amount of free and unobstructed space will be provided in the interior of the receptacle for handling the laundry therein. In the preferred embodiment shown and described above, the

. cover-holding or latching bolts 62 are not likely to be moved readily if an object should contact the cover because of the relatively strong spring bias of these bolts to their ejected positions. Also, the part 9! of the element 84 is disposed closely adjacent to the marginal edge portion about the opening 28 and well above the regionwhere the upper edge of the liner 22 is fixed in position within the container 23.

The holding members 62 can only be rendered i operable to hold the cover 29 by manually moving the cover to its closed position. The locking members 68 are provided in addition to the holding members 62 so as to lock the cover 29 in its closed position. The mechanism for rendering members 68 operable to lock the cover in place includes the pin 80. When the element 56 of the laundry machine control reaches a definite position to cause pin 80* to ride on the raised portion 82a of cam 82, then movement will be imparted to plate 13 with respect to partition 6| and the members 68 will move to their cover locking position.

As previously explained, the operation of control element 58 is effected and turning movement thereof is inhibited in the operation of the laundry machine which immediately precedes that of contracting the liner 22. Hence, while cover 29 can be removed during the operation immediately preceding that of contracting the liner, the action that takes place to inhibit movement of element 56 makes it necessary to mount the cover in its closed position before the element 55 can freely turn to operate the controls that govern the operating provisions and initiate the operation of contracting the liner 22.

When the cover 29 is not in its closed position and when the control element 58 is in such a position that the notches iii are not in the immediate vicinity of the prong 88, thernember 84 will assume a third position intermediate the first and second positions referred to above, as shown in Fig. 20. In such case the spring 85 will be effective to bias the member 84 radially inward until the prong 88 engages the smooth inner surface 89 of the recessed portion of cam 82. This may occur when a washing operation is taking place, for example. Under the operating conditions shown in Fig. 20, the cover 29 can be removed from its closed position without opening the switch 36 and without interrupting the operation of the laundry machine; and, since the prong 88 is bearin against the smooth surface so under the bias of the spring 85, the control element 56 and cam 82 fixed thereto can freely turn to the next succeeding operation and until the notches 90 reach the vicinity of the prong 88.

Although I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to the particular arrangements set forth. Therefore, I intend in the claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a laundry machine having a top access opening .and a receptacle therein including an inner liner for holding laundry, a cover, the marginal edge portion about the opening having a surfacedirected toward the interior of the receptacle, such machine having provisions for effecting a number of operations including washing and rinsing of laundry in the receptacle and contracting of the liner to extract liquid from laundry, and control means for governing and regulating such operating provisions, of holding means associated with the marginal edge portion of the opening for holding the cover in a closed position with the peripheral edge portion thereof acting and bearing against the surface directed toward the interior of the receptacle, said holding means being effective to hold the cover in its closed position only and ineffective to hold the cover when the latter is manually removed from its closed position to permit access through the opening into the receptacle, mechanical means for locking the cover in its closed position, and mechanism associating said control means and last-mentioned mechanical locking means to render the latter effective to lock said cover in itsclosed position and prevent manual removal thereof when said operating provisions are rendered operable by said control means to contract said liner, 7

2. Apparatus as setforth in claim 1 in which said mechanism is only effective to lock said cover in its closed position when said operating provisions are rendered operable by said control means to contract said liner and ineffective to lock said cover in its closed position when said operating provisions are rendered operable by said control means to effect washing and rinsing, thereby allowing said cover to be removed from its closed position during the washing and rinsing operations without interrupting the operation of the washing machine.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said holding means comprises a plurality of members distributed about the opening, and means associated with said members to render the latter snap-acting in operation.

l. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said holding means comprises a plurality of resiliently acting members.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said holding means includes a plurality of members, resilient means associated with said members to bias the latter to a cover holding position, said members being shaped to facilitate movement of said cover past said members by imparting movement to the latter when contacted by said cover against the bias of said resilient means, and said members being inherently biased to their cover holding position when said cover reaches its closed position.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said control means includes an element movable to a definite position when said operating provisions are rendered operable by said control means to contract said liner, and means responsive to movement of said element to the definite position to render said mechanical locking means effective to lock said cover.

'7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said control means includes an element movable in a path of movement, said element being movable to one position in its path of movement when said operating provisions are rendered operable by said control means to contract said liner and to another position in its path of movement when said operating provisions are rendered operable by said control means to initiate an operation immediately preceding that of con-' tracting said liner, mechanism including a member movable between first and second positions and movable to the first position responsive to mounting of said cover in its closed position and movable to the second position responsive to removal of said cover from its closed position and movement of the element to said other position in its path of movement, means operatively associated with the member to inhibit movement of the element from said other position in its path of movement responsive to movement of the member to the second position and as long as said cover is removed from its closed position, and means responsive to movement of the element to said one position in its path of movement to render said mechanical locking means effective to lock said cover.

8. In combination with a laundry machine having a top circular access opening and a receptacle therein including an inner liner for holding laundry, such machine including provisions for effecting a number of operations including Washing and rinsing of laundry in the receptacle and contracting of the liner to extract liquid from the laundry, and control means for governing and regulating such operating provisions, of a circular cover for the machine having a diameter greater than that of the circular opening, the marginal edge portion about the opening having a surface directed toward the interior of the receptacle and being formed to provide a path of movement through 12 which the cover can be moved sideways into the interior of the receptacle and be withdrawn therefrom, mechanical means for holding the cover only while the latter is in a closed position within the receptacle with the peripheral edge portion thereof acting and bearing against the surface directed toward the interior of the receptacle, said mechanical means being selfacting and rendered operable to hold the cover only in its closed position responsive to movement of the cover to its closed position. and

rendered inoperable to holdthe cover responsive to movement of the cover from its closed position toward the interior of the receptacle, additional mechanical means for holding the cover while the latter is in a closed position, and mechanism associating said control means and additional mechanical means to render the latter effective to lock the cover in its closed position and prevent manual removal thereof when said operating provisions are rendered operable bysaid control means to contract said liner.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which said self-acting mechanical means is disposed within the laundry machine and completely inaccessible for independent manipulation when said cover is in its closed position.

10. In combination with a laundry machine having a top circular access opening, and a re-. ccptacle therein including an inner liner for holding laundry, such machine including provisions for effecting a number of operations including Washing and rinsing of laundry in the receptacle and contracting of the liner to extract liquid from the laundry, and control means for governing and regulating such operating provisions, of a circular cover for the machine having a diameter greater than that of the circular opening, the marginal edge portion about the opening having a surface directed toward the interior of the receptacle and being formed to provide a path of movement through which the cover can be moved sideways into the interior ofthe receptacle and be withdrawn therefrom, mechanical means for holding the cover only whiie the latter is in a closed position within the receptacle with the peripheral edge portion thereof acting and bearing against the surface directed toward the interior of the receptacle, said mechanical means being self-acting and rendered operable to hold, the cover only in its closed position responsive to movement of the cover to its closed position and rendered i noperable to hold the cover responsive to. movement of the cover from its closed position, toward the interior of the receptacle, said controlv means including an element movable to. and; from a definite position, mechanism including a member movable between first-and second positions and movable to the first position responsivetomounting of the cover in. its closed position and movable to the second position responsive to, removal of the cover from its closed position and; movement of said element to the definite position, and means operatively associated with said;

member to effect the operation of said element responsive to movement of. said member to. the

about the opening having a surfacedirected to;

ward the interior of the receptacle, such machinehaving provisions for effecti g a number of opl3 erations including washing and rinsing of laundry in the receptacle and contracting of the liner to extract liquid from laundry, and

control means for governing and regulating such operating provisions, of holding means associated with the marginal edge portion of the opening for holding the cover in a closed position with the peripheral edge portion thereof acting and bearing against the surface directed toward the interior of the receptacle, said control means including an element movable to and from a definite position, mechanism including a member movable between first and second positions and movable to the first position responsive to mounting of the cover in its closed position and movable to the second position responsive to removal of the cover from its closed position and movement of said element to the definite position, and means operatively associated with said member to effect the operation of said element responsive to movement of said member to the second position.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which said element only moves to the definite position in an operation of the laundry machine which immediately precedes that of contracting said liner, and said means operatively associated with said member and effecting operation of said element acts to make it necessary to mount said cover in its closed position before said control means will be operable to govern the operating provisions and initiate the operation of contracting said liner.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which said element moves to the definite position in an operation which immediately precedes that of contracting said liner, and said means operatively associated with said member and effecting the operation of said element acts to inhibit movement of the latter as long as said cover is removed from its closed position.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 in which said member is movable to a third position intermediate the first and second positions responsive to movement of said cover from its closed position and movement of said element to a position other than said definite position, said member in the first and second and third positions thereof being ineffective to interrupt the operating provisions taking place while said element is not in said definite position and said cover is either in its closed position or removed therefrom, and said member also being ineffective in the first and third positions thereof to interrupt the operating provisions taking place while said element is in said definite position and said cover is in its closed position.

15. In combination with a laundry machine having a top access opening and a receptacle therein including an inner liner for holding laundry, a cover, the marginal edge portion about the opening having a surface directed toward the interior of the receptacle, such machine having provisions for effecting a number of operations including washing and rinsing of laundry in the receptacle and contracting of the liner to extract liquid from laundry, and control means for governing and regulating such operating provisions, of holding means associated with the marginal edge portion of the opening for holding the cover in a closed position with the peripheral edge portion thereof acting and cooperating with the surface directed toward the interior of the receptacle, mechanical means for locking said cover in its closed position, said control means including an element movable in a path of movement, said element being movable to one position in its path of movement when said operating provisions are rendered operable by said control means to contract said liner and to another posi tion when said operating provisions are rendered operable by said control means to initiate an operation immediately preceding that of contractingsaid liner, mechanism including a member movable between first and second positions and movable to the first position responsive to mounting of the cover in its closed position and movable to the second position responsive to removal of the cover from its closed position and movement of the element to said other position in its path of movement, means operatively associated with said member to inhibit movement of said element from said other position responsive to movement of said member to the second position and as long as said cover is removed from its closed position, and means responsive to movement of the element to said one position in its path of movement to render said mechanical locking means effective to lock said cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS Number 

